Coin sorting device with vibrating sorting bar



March 25, 1969 G. ZIMMERMANN COIN SORTING DEVICE WITH VIBRATING SORTING BAR Filed Feb. 23, 1967 In van tor; GER T Z IMMERMA NN wnzf A TTORNE Y5 United States Patent Z Int. Cl. G07d 3/ 00; B65g 27/00 US. Cl. 133-3 5 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A single embodiment of coin sorting device is disclosed which includes a coin storage vessel having a coin feeding opening for feeding coins directly onto a substantially horizontally oriented sorting bar. The sorting bar and the coin storage vessel are resiliently mounted within a casing or housing and they are vibrated by an inexpensive electromagnetic vibrating device to cause feeding of coins in the storage vessel downwardly through a slot therein onto the bar. The sorting bar includes a substantially vertical coin guiding edge and the bar is advantageously tilted slightly toward the edge so that coins are advanced along the edge until they move over a portion of a stepped coin fall-out slot of the bar which is of a size comparable to the individual coin. The coins drop downwardly into one of a plurality of receiving vessels or drop shafts for each coin denomination.

The inventive features reside in the simplicity and low cost of the operating parts and in the provision of a coin sorting device with great accuracy, but of relatively low overall height and depth.

An important feature is that the coins are sorted by means of a sorting bar which is disposed substantially horizontally so that the coins drop out equally flat and do not tip first. The sorting bar is arranged integral with the coin storage vessel and these two parts are vibrated together to feed the coins out of the vessel and along the vertical guide edge of the bar to the drop-out slot. The vibration provides for an even feeding of the coins from the storage vessel and along the sorting bar without requiring any additional feeding devices.

Summary of the invention The invention relates in general to coin sorting devices and in particular to a new and useful coin sorter having a sorting bar provided with a drop-out having stepped sizes corresponding to the size of the coins to. be sorted and including a straight vertical guide edge extending in a longitudinal direction along which the coins are guided and fed from a storage vessel arranged at one end of the sorting bar by vibrating or oscillating the vessel and the bar.

The known coin sorters are rather expensive because of the large number of operating parts which are required. Generally, the feeding of coins from the storage vessel to the sorting bar requires a special feeding system with a separate drive. The sorting bar of the known devices requires a certain drop or runway. This results in a relatively great overall height and depth which is required because of the feeding system. In the known coin sorters, the sorting bars are arranged so that they stand vertically with their guide edge substantially horizontal so that the guide edge is likely to become fouled by dirt or debris.

This can produce a harmful etfect on the sorting if the accumulation of dirt is in the range of the sorting tolerance. In addition, it is a great inconvenience when the coins tip on dropping out from a substantially vertical ICC sorting bar, since this can interfere with the stacking of the coins inside the sorting shafts.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided an inexpensive and simple sorting device which includes a coin storage vessel having a slot for feeding coins in a flattened condition downwardly onto a horizontally arranged sorting bar which is disposed beneath the storage vessel and connected thereto. The storage bar and the storage vessel are resiliently mounted and are vibrated by means of an inexpensive vibrating electromagnet in order to cause the easy feeding movement of the coins to be sorted from the storage vessel downwardly onto the sorting bar and then along a substantially vertically disposed sorting bar guide edge and into a drop-out slot defined along the length of the sorting bar formed in steps of sizes comparable to sizes of the denomination of the coins being sorted. The apparatus is designed to be arranged over drop shafts arranged in vertical alignment beneath the step portions of the dropout slot for the coin denominations sorted so that they may be easily collected and received in a flattened condition without tipping. In addition, the arrangement of the sorting bar horizontally provides a vertical coin guide edge which will not be subject to fouling and thus will provide greater accuracy of operation.

A further feature of the arrangement is the interconnection of the sorting bar with the storage vessel and the mounting of these parts on a resilient support so that they may be easily vibrated. By this arrangement it is possible to use an inexpensive electromagnetic vibrator to effect vibration of both parts and the uniform feeding of the coins. The storage vessel is provided with an inclined bottom leading to a slot larger than the largest denomination of coins to be sorted so that the coins will drop in a flattened condition directly onto the one end of the sorting bar which is positioned therebeneath. The coins move along the vertical edge of the sorting bar without rolling off. The flat feeding of the coins permits the construction of the apparatus with a very low height and the sorting of flat coins results in great sorting accuracy.

An advantageous embodiment of the invention is the arrangement of the sorting bar at an inclination in a transverse direction which is a very small angle of about from 1 to 10 from the horizontal. This inclination in combination with a central impartation of the vibration suflices to move the coins which are to be sorted along the vertical edge of the sorting bar. The sorting bar can, of course, be positioned horizontally provided the angle of vibration imparted to the device is correspondingly changed to impart the desired advance movement in the horizontal direction along the sorting bar guide edge. In the preferred form, the storage vessel and the sorting bar are mounted on resilient supports and they are provided with an end face having a magnetically attractable part which is vibrated by an electromagnetic motor positioned adjacent the part. When the sorting bar is arranged at a slight inclination, the oscillating magnet can be arranged parallel to the guide edge of the sorting bar so that the oscillating movements of the sorting bar are effected in a longitudinal direction. The coins will thus slide by their own weight toward the guide edge and will be moved by the oscillations of the sorting bar in the longitudinal direction along the sorting bar.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an inexpensive coin sorting device having a substantially horizontally disposed sorting bar.

A further object of the invention is to provide a coin sorting device which includes a coin storage vessel which is connected to one end of a horizontally arranged sorting bar and includes a slot for dropping coins downwardly onto the sorting bar and including means for vibrating the bar with the storage vessel to advance coins from the storage vessel onto the sorting bar and along a substantially vertical edge of the bar until the coin is aligned with the slot size comparable to its denomination.

A further object of the invention is to provide a coin sorting device of relatively low height and depth and which is simple in design, rugged in construction and economical to manufacture.

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its use, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Brief description of the drawings In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a coin sorting device constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view taken along the lines IIII of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a section taken along the lines II'I-III of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a section taken along the lines 'IVIV of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a section taken along the lines V--V of FIG. 1.

Detailed description Referring to the drawings in particular, the invention embodied therein comprises a coin sorting device generally designated which includes a coin storage vessel 6 which is disposed over and connected to one end of a coin sorting bar generally designated 1. The sorting bar and the storage vessel are resiliently mounted in a blockshaped container 12 on longitudinally spaced resilient supports 13, 13.

The sorting bar 1 rests on a substantially U-shaped supporting rail 2 which has an ablong opening 2a at its top to permit passage of coins downwardly therethrough after the coins have first been moved along the sorting bar 1 in order that the coins of a particular denomination will be aligned with an appropriate portion of a stepped drop-out slot having steps 4 of sizes comparable to the denomination of the coins being sorted. The steps 4 gradually increase in the direction of coin feed so that a coin will drop downwardly through the slot 4a once it is aligned with an opening corresponding to its size.

The sorting bar 1 is provided with a fiat receiving or bearing surface 3 and a substantially vertical edge 5 which extends along the complete length of the sorting bar. The guide edge 5 may be incorporated with the bar or may be attached separately. In the arrangement indicated, the bearing surface 3 is arranged at a slight angle to the horizontal, an angle of about 4, and in this position the guide edge 5 is substantially vertical.

In accordance with the invention, the sorting bar 1 is connected at its one end to the storage vessel 6 to form a unit which is capable of oscillation. Between the storage vessel 6 and the sorting bar 1 there is arranged a slightly wedge-shaped distance piece which provides the slight inclination of the sorting bar to the horizontal. The bottom of the storage vessel 6 carries an inclined insert 6a which fills the two front corners of the vessel and which leaves an outlet opening 7 free. The outlet opening 7 is of a diameter greater than the largest diameter of the coins to be sorted. The coins which are placed in the storage vessel 6 will be moved by the vibration downwardly along the inclined insert or bottom 6a to the slot 7 and dropped downwardly in a fiat condition onto the surface 3 of the sorting bar 1. The outlet opening toward the sorting bar is limited by a coin stripper 0.

The stripper 8 leaves an opening 9 having a height corresponding to the maximum thickness of the coin M.

In accordance with a further feature of the invention, an anchor plate 10 is secured to a face of the supporting rail 2 and provides means for vibrating the storage vessel '6 with the sorting bar 1 upon actuation of an electromagnetic vibrator 11 which is secured on the housing 12 and connected to a suitable DC). current supply (not shown). The elastic supports 13, 13 permit the free vibratory movement of the storage vessel 6 and the sorting bar 1 in all directions. The resilient supports 13 are disposed between two metal strips 14 and 15 secured on the bottom of the sorting bar 1 and the housing 13, respectively. The resilient supports 13 comprise soft rubber which is cemented to the strips 1-4 and 15. The strips 14 and 15 are secured under the sorting bar and on the housing bottom by means of screws 22. The housing 12 has a bottom opening 12a of a length greater than the size of the sorting slot 4a to permit the sorted coins to drop downwardly into a receiving vessel for each size coin (not shown).

Inside the U-shaped supporting rails 2 are secured vertical straps 16 which are disposed in the range of the opening 12a and which follow the oscillating movement of the sorting bar 1. The distance between the upper edge 17 (FIG. 5) of the strap 16 and the sorting bar 1 is so great that the coins can tip toward one side or the other. The straps 16 are indicated in FIG. 1, and located so that identical coin receiving vessels may be arranged on each side thereof and may be filled uniformly with the same types of coins.

A key 18 protrudes from the housing 12 and when it is actuated it starts an electric timer relay 19 in the housing which, in turn, connects the vibrator 11 for a certain operative time period.

When the DC. magnet 11 is energized, the sorting bar 1 and the storage vessel 6 with the coins contained therein are set in oscillating motion. Depending on the direction of the magnet 11, the oscillating movement can be either in a longitudinal direction of the sorting bar 1 or slightly inclined to the latter. With the slightly inclined sorting bar, the oscillating movement will be arranged in a longitudinal direction. This has the eifect that the coins glide from the storage vessel 8 through the opening 7 and fall onto the bearing surface 3 of the sorting bar and pass individually through the opening 9 of the coin stripper 8 and travel individually in a flat position along the sorting bar, always being guided along the edge 5 because of the slight inclination of the bar. Since the guide edge 5 remains vertical, it will always remain free of dirt and clean in operation and this is further enhanced by the vibration which also keeps the bearing surface 3 of the sorting bar clean in conjunction with the action of the traveling coins. When the sorting bar is arranged substantially horizon tally, the direction of oscillation is preferably inclined to the guide edge 5 so that the positive guidance of the coins by the guide edge will always be insured. Because the device is constantly vibrated, the coins will not stick or jam particularly below the stripper 8. The vibration also produces an advantageous effect in the uniform filling of the identical coin shafts which are arranged below the housing 12.

The device has a very low overall height and depth compared to the known sorters. Since there are hardly any mechanical movements, there is very little wear so that the service life of the device is very great. The lowest overall height is achieved when the sorting bar is arranged horizontally. The coins drop horizontally, that is, fiat from the sorting bar and are stacked horizontally without having to be tipped first. After leaving the sorting bar, they drop into coin shafts. In some instances, it is desirable to incline the bar downwardly in the feeding direction slightly, but this is not necessary and the feeding can be produced by the vibration.

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the inventive principles, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is:

1. A coin sorting device comprising a coin storage vessel having a discharge opening for the discharge of coins, a sorting bar having a flat surface with a drop through slot defined therethrough graduated for the separate drop through of coins of selected denominations and having a portion disposed beneath said storage vessel discharge opening, guide means in said vessel for guiding coins to said discharge opening upon oscillation of said vessel, said sorting bar being substantially horizontally disposed for receiving coins delivered through the slot of the opening of said storage vessel in a fiat orientation and having a substantially vertical guide edge along which the coins are adapted to be fed, means for supporting said coin storage vessel and said sorting bar for combined oscillatory movement, said mounting means including spaced resilient supports below and supporting said sorting bar, said sorting bar being connected to said coin storage vessel and being spaced therefrom by an amount to permit only passage of coins of selected denomination and thickness between said coin storage vessel and said sorting bar for movement along said sorting bar, and means for oscillating said sorting bar and said storage vessel in a manner to impart motion to the coins and to advance the coins in the vessel to the discharge opening and to the sorting bar and along said bar to a position at which it drops through said slot including a vibration motor below said storage vessel adjacent one end of said sorting bar and a magnetic plunger member on said sorting bar movable in oscillation by said vibratory motor.

2. A coin sorting device comprising a coin storage vessel having a discharge opening for the discharge of coins, a sorting bar having a flat surface with a drop through slot defined therethrough graduated for the separate drop through of coins of selected denominations and having a portion disposed beneath said storage vessel discharge opening, said sorting bar being substantially horizontally disposed for receiving coins delivered through the slot of the opening of said storage vessel in a fiat orientation and having a substantially vertical guide edge along which the coins are adapted to be fed, means for supporting said coin storage vessel and said sorting bar for combined oscillatory movement, oscillating means connected to said storage vessel and said sorting bar to oscillate them in a manner to impart motion to the coins and to advance the coins in the vessel to the discharge opening and to the sorting bar and along said bar to a position at which it drops through said slot, said supporting means including a substantially U-shaped supporting rail secured to the underside of said sorting bar, said rail carrying substantially vertical straps disposed at spaced relationship in respect to said coin drop through slot of said sorting bar and dividing the slot in a longitudinal direction.

3. A coin sorting device, comprising a housing having an opening in the bottom for the dropping of coins therethrough, a sorting bar having a flat surface with at least one drop through slot therethrough oriented over the opening of said housing, a coin storage vessel having a discharge opening for the discharge of coins therethrough and being mounted on said flat sorting bar at a spaced location from the slot, a resilient block having a fixed end mounted on said housing and an opposite end supporting said sorting bar and said storage vessel in said housing for vibratory movement, a distance piece disposed between said sorting bar and said housing for holding said bar at an angle to said housing, an electromagnetic actuator in said housing adjacent one end of said sorting bar, said sorting bar having a magnetic portion adjacent said electromagnet, said sorting bar having a flat surface below said storage vessel in a position to receive coins therefrom, said fiat surface being oriented at a small angle to the horizontal not exceeding 10 and having a vertical edge along one side along which the coins are adapted to be fed, said electromagnetic actuator being located so that upon excitation thereof said sorting bar with the storage vessel is vibrated backwardly and forwardly in a manner to impart motion to the coins and to advance coins in said storage vessel to and through the discharge opening and onto said flat surface of said sorting bar and to move the coins along the vertical edge to the slot for passing through the slot and through the opening of said housing.

4. A coin sorting device, according to claim 3, wherein said storage vessel housing is located closely adjacent said flat surface and is of a size to strip away coins which are thicker than those which are to be moved along said storage vessel and dropped through said slot, said housing being of block-shaped construction and being relatively shallow.

5. A coin sorting device comprising a coin storage vessel having a flat bottom with a discharge opening for the discharge of coins in said bottom, a sorting bar having a flat surface with a drop through slot defined therethrough graduated for the separate drop through of coins of selected denominations and having a fiat portion disposed beneath the flat bottom of said storage vessel discharge opening, a support rail carrying said sorting bar, at least one fixed vertical resilient block disposed beneath and resiliently supporting said rail, a distance piece disposed between said sorting bar and said flat bottom of said storage vessel and interconnecting said storage vessel with said bar for movement together, and means carried by said support rail for vibrating said support rail with said bar and said housing in a manner to impart motion to the coins to drop them through said discharge onto said sorting bar and to advance the coins along said sorting bar to a position at which they drop through one of the graduated portions of said slot.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 986,939 3/1911 Nott 133-3 264,425 9/1882 Quinn 1333 802,550 10/1905 Batdorf et al. 1333 1,918,456 8/1933 Dodge 198220 2,170,258 8/1939 Borch 222-202 3,086,536 4/1963 Klopp 133-3 3,135,270 6/1942 Arnold 133-3 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,400 2/ 1888 Sweden.

WALTER SOBIN, Primary Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R. 

